Focused Passage

Hebrews 5:11-14

The Son Appointed High Priest and the Danger of Spiritual Immaturity

The chapter explains that Christ is the God-appointed, suffering, obedient, and perfected high priest, then confronts hearers who should be mature but have become dull and need training in righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!

13 For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 3 BSB references 2 Timothy 2:15 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:2 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 15:34 Classic cross-references Matthew 13:15 Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 3:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

We [have] ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural much πολὺς G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular to say λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular about Περὶ G4012 Preposition [this] οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular [but it is] καὶ G2532 Conjunction hard to explain δυσερμήνευτος G1421 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . λέγειν G3004 Verb - Present Infinitive Active because ἐπεὶ G1893 Conjunction you are γεγόνατε G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural dull νωθροὶ G3576 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural of ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural hearing ἀκοαῖς G189 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural

Verse 12

Cross-references

1 Peter 2:2 Classic cross-references Hebrews 6:1 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:1 Classic cross-references Hebrews 5:13 Classic cross-references Isaiah 28:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Although καὶ G2532 Conjunction by διὰ G1223 Preposition [this] τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular time χρόνον G5550 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular you ought ὀφείλοντες G3784 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural to be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active teachers διδάσκαλοι G1320 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural you ἔχετε G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural need χρείαν G5532 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [someone] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular to reteach διδάσκειν G1321 Verb - Present Infinitive Active . . . πάλιν G3825 Adverb you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural - τινα G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural basic ἀρχῆς G746 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular principles στοιχεῖα G4747 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God’s Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular word λογίων G3051 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv γεγόνατε G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural vvv ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural You need χρείαν G5532 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular milk γάλακτος G1051 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction not οὐ G3756 Adverb solid στερεᾶς G4731 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular food τροφῆς G5160 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

BSB notes

Or of the oracles of God

Verse 13

Cross-references

Hebrews 5:12 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:1 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 14:20 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 2:2 Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 3:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction everyone πᾶς G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular lives on μετέχων G3348 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular milk γάλακτος G1051 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - γάρ G1063 Conjunction is [still] ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular an infant νήπιος G3516 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular inexperienced ἄπειρος G552 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular in [the] message λόγου G3056 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular of righteousness δικαιοσύνης G1343 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Verse 14

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 2:14 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 3:9 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:11 Classic cross-references Philippians 1:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

But δέ G1161 Conjunction solid στερεὰ G4731 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular - ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular food τροφή G5160 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [for the] mature τελείων G5046 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural who τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural by διὰ G1223 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular constant use ἕξιν G1838 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular have ἐχόντων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural trained γεγυμνασμένα G1128 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural [their] τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural senses αἰσθητήρια G145 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition distinguish διάκρισιν G1253 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular . . . τε G5037 Conjunction good καλοῦ G2570 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular [from] καὶ G2532 Conjunction evil κακοῦ G2556 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular

Read full chapter context All Hebrews chapters

<- Hebrews 4 Hebrews 5 Hebrews 6 ->